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Sheriff: suspect beat wife week before shooting

Suspected murder has violent history

Kristen D Swilley, WMAZ 8:42 p.m. EST February 24, 2014

Surveillance footage from Feb. 14 shows a man matching Flowers description leaving the shopping area and going to the shopping cart lobby where he punched Bridget Flowers twice in the face, knocking her unconscious.

The man accused of killing his wife Saturday was arrested on Valentine's Day for allegedly beating her at a Macon Walmart, according to the Bibb County sheriff's office.

Jasento Flowers Sr.'s most recent arrest happened at the Walmart on Gray Highway, eight days before he allegedly shot and killed his estranged wife, Bridget Flowers near their home on Trinity Place in Macon.

According to an incident report, surveillance footage from Feb. 14 shows a man matching Flowers' description leaving the shopping area and going to the shopping cart lobby, where he punched Bridget Flowers twice in the face, knocking her unconscious.

A Bibb County Sheriff's deputy tried to arrest Flowers, but he resisted and punched the officer in the mouth, causing him to bleed., the report says.

After continuing to resist arrest, Flowers was Tased by another officer, according to the report.

He then arrested and taken to the Bibb Law Enforcement Center. He was released two days later on $15,050 bond.

The Bibb County Sheriff's Office is investigating the fatal shooting of Bridgette Flowers that happened just after 10 p.m. Saturday.

Two other victims, Jamecia Williams and Onterio Smith, were both shot along with Flowers inside her van.

Jasento Flowers is described as 5 foot 7 inches tall and weighing about 140 pounds.

The suspect's black 2001 BMW was recovered at a relative's house on Adams Avenue in Macon. It was dropped off by a wrecker service from Dooly County.

According to the sheriff's office, Flowers has been arrested in Bibb County 17 times since 1988 for charges that include assault and battery, domestic violence and drug charges.

His son, Jasento Lachun Flowers Jr., 23, was arrested just before 1 a.m. Sunday. Bibb sheriff's officials said he was tampering with evidence because he was attempting to remove evidence from a crime scene, a news release states.